Rio Ferdinand believes "something" is happening behind the scenes at Chelsea following Thomas Tuchel's recent rant.
The Blues boss couldn't guarantee his team would be ready for the new Premier League season after their 4-0 defeat by Arsenal in Florida last month. Chelsea worryingly won just one of their three friendlies in the US against Club America, Charlotte and the Gunners.
Although Manchester United legend Ferdinand is not looking too much into Chelsea's pre-season results, he is concerned by Tuchel's reaction to the Arsenal defeat. He thinks the German could be "disgruntled" at the club's lack of progress in the transfer market.
Chelsea have signed four senior players so far this summer - Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina - after losing Andreas Christensen to Barcelona and Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid on free transfers.
Record signing Romelu Lukaku has also left Stamford Bridge after scoring just eight Premier League goals last season. He's re-joined Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal and it's thought that arrangement could be extended for another term in 12 months' time.
Several other players could leave Chelsea before September if rumours are to be believed. Hakim Ziyech, Armando Broja, Timo Werner, Kepa Arrizabalaga and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta have all been linked with the exit at Stamford Bridge this summer.
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"I don't care about results in pre-season, it was more the aftermath," Ferdinand tells Mirror Football , courtesy of BT Sport. "The way the manager spoke in the press conference afterwards was the startling thing for me, it opened my eyes.
"There must be some things happening behind the scenes that we're not aware of as yet, he seems disgruntled and unhappy. There are maybe some players angling for a move behind-the-scenes that we're not aware of. He's brought Sterling in who will be a great addition, but if they lose the players that they're talking about losing.
"Rudiger's a massive loss, but Koulibaly's come in - I think he'll be a good signing this year. He's experienced. But I think they need more again and I think he's very aware of that and it's not happening quick enough for them. If they don't have any more movement in the window, I'd be worried about them."
Chelsea are under new ownership this season after a consortium led by US businessman Todd Boehly completed a takeover in May, ending Roman Abramovich's 19-year reign. The new owners want the Blues to remain a force in English football, but Ferdinand thinks they'll finish outside of the Premier League's top four this season.
"I think it [the top six in order] will go Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal," adds the former England international.
When asked if Chelsea will be ready for the new Premier League campaign after the Arsenal defeat, Tuchel said: "I can not guarantee it. I saw today a team in Arsenal who are mentally committed to an idea of playing, a level of exhaustion, a level of physical commitment that we could not match.
"Also, a level of mental commitment that we lacked because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options. We have players that have left and I think at the moment that's obvious."
Tuchel went on to say: "We had an urgent appeal for quality players and a huge amount of quality players. We've got two quality players – that is no doubt – but we are not competitive like this and unfortunately, we could see it today."
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